Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury Predictions, WNBA Picks, Betting Tips 8/21/2020

Game: Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury

Date: Friday, August 21, 2020

Location: IMG Academy

TV: CBS Sports

IMG Academy is the site where Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury (6-6, 5th in the Western Conference) will play the Minnesota Lynx (8-3, 4th in the Western Conference) on Friday.

Crystal Dangerfield comes into this contest averaging 14.3 points per game while playing 28.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Lynx. She pulls down 1.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.5 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 48% while her free throw percentage is currently at 90%. Lexie Brown averages 8.9 points per game in 28.6 minutes per contest this season. She averages 3.1 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game for Minnesota. Her field goal percentage is 37% for the year while her free throw percentage is 77%.

Diana Taurasi averages 16.8 points per game while playing 28.3 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 4.3 rebounds per game and has 5.6 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 40% and her free throw percentage currently is at 93%. Brianna Turner averages 7.0 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 22.5 minutes per contest. She also averages 6.0 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 62% and her free throw percentage is 60%.

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Minnesota averages 81.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 3rd in the league. They average 35.4 rebounds per game and 17.6 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 4th with 15.3 per game. The Lynx allow 75.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.6 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 17.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Phoenix is 3rd in the league with 86.7 points per game this year. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.1. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the WNBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 32.8 boards per game, and 2nd in assists per contest with 21.6. The Mercury are 5th in turnovers per game with 14.7. The Mercury surrender 85.6 points per contest, which ranks them 9th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 6th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 18.6 assists allowed per contest and 9th with 34.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 4th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per game this season.

The Lynx are 5th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 105.8, and their defensive rating of 98.8 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 76.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 6th. As a team they are 6th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league. Minnesota is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 11th in the league.

Phoenix is 5th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 8th in the WNBA. The Mercury are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 105.1, and their offensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 5th. They are 3rd in the WNBA in pace with 81.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the WNBA.

Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Phoenix

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